5th United States Colored Cavalry

5th United States Colored Cavalry
African-American, Union soldiers at Dutch Gap, Virginia, November, 1864. Typical Union uniforms and 1853 Enfield rifles, used by Colored troops
Active	1864–1866
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Saltville I Battle of Marion Battle of Saltville II
Commanders
Notable commanders	James Sanks Brisbin Louis Henry Carpenter

American Civil War

The 5th United States Colored Cavalry was a regiment of the United States Army organized as one of many Colored units during the American Civil War. The 5th USCC was one of the more notable black fighting units and it was officially organized, after its first two battles, in Kentucky in October 1864. It was commanded by Colonel James Brisbin until February 1865, when he took over the 6th US Colored Cavalry. His executive officer, Louis Henry Carpenter then commanded the regiment until 20 March 1866. The regiment was composed of ex-slaves, freedmen, and slaves. Many white officers from the unit were later assigned to the famed Buffalo Soldiers cavalry units. Many former USCC soldiers (later called troopers) volunteered for further service after their Civil War units were retired. The regiment isn't to be confused with the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry

In the early months of 1864, General Stephen Gano Burbridge, commander of the Military District of Kentucky, issued General Order No. 24 which authorized the formation of colored units composed of ex-slaves, freedmen, and slaves in his command. Although the unit was not officially formed until 24 October 1864, it saw combat on two different occasions. Its first major encounter was on 2 October 1864, in and around the salt works of Saltville, Virginia. When word of Burbridge's raid reached the 5th USCC, the regiment had yet to be officially organized until after they returned from the raid. At the time of the battle, over 600 colored soldiers joined General Burbridge in the, as yet unorganized, 5th USCC. Although the regiment consisted of black cavalrymen, the officers of the regiment were required to be white. The white officers would then organize noncommissioned field officers among the ranks of the black soldiers to fill the positions of sergeants. However, Lieutenant Colonel L. Henry Carpenter soon realized that his newly formed black troops were illiterate. Therefore, Carpenter petitioned command to place white noncommissioned officers in charge of the black units. His request was granted, and hastily the 5th USCC was formed. Some soldiers had not even officially enlisted; few officers had been appointed, and even fewer noncommissioned officers were assigned. Yet Colonel James F. Wade was temporarily placed in charge of the group with orders to join Burbridge in Kentucky. In his haste to create the unit, Wade mounted his 600 men on untrained horses with Enfield infantry rifles, which were useless to mounted men as they could not be loaded from horseback. In comparison, the troops of the 11th Michigan and 12th Ohio Cavalries were armed with Spencer repeating carbines, which were wholly effective from horseback.